New York Yankees closer David Bednar, Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki and Seattle outfielder Randy Arozarena were among eight players who received $23.15 million qualifying offers from their teams Monday.
asserted
who → receive → teams
Milwaukee first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers and Baltimore left-hander Trevor Rogers also received the offers along with Minnesota catcher Ryan Jeffers, Pittsburgh second baseman Brandon Lowe and San Diego left-hander Adrian Morejon.
asserted
Bauers → receive → Jeffers
A player has until Nov. 17 to accept.
asserted
player → have → Nov.
Qualifying offers began after the 2012 season, and only 18 of 157 prior offers have been accepted.
asserted
offers → begin → season
The figure is determined by the average of the top 125 major league contracts this year.
asserted
figure → determine → contracts
A free agent can be made a qualifying offer only if he has been with the same team continuously since opening day and has never received a qualifying offer before.
asserted
he → make → offer
If a team makes a qualifying offer to a player who signs a major league contract with another club before the next amateur draft, his former club receives draft pick compensation at the end of the first round or at the end of competitive balance round B.
asserted
club → make → end
The placement depends on the amount of the new contract and the revenue-sharing and luxury tax status of the team losing the player.
asserted
placement → depend → player
Among those not receiving offers was Philadelphia third baseman Alex Bohm.
asserted
Bohm → receive → offers
About 28 more players became free agents, raising the total to approximately 183.
asserted
players → become → 183
Players could start negotiating terms with all teams at 5 p.m. Eastern Monday.
uncertain
Players → start → p.m.
Major League Baseball is expected to impose a lockout when the collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, likely creating a signing frenzy in the run-up.
asserted
agreement → expect → up
Option and opt-out decisions
Baltimore declined a $7.5 million option on first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, limited to eight games this year by a broken left foot sustained when he stumbled while on the basepaths on April 8.
asserted
he → opt → April
The Orioles turned down a $3.5 million option on catcher Dietrich Enns, which called for a $125,000 buyout.
asserted
which → turn → buyout
Corbin Burnes decided not to opt out of the final four seasons of his $210 million, six-year contract with Arizona.
asserted
Burnes → decide → Arizona
The deal calls for $35 million annual salaries, including $11 million deferred each year.
asserted
deal → call → million
The 32-year-old right-hander returned to the major leagues on Sept. 8 after a 15-month recovery from Tommy John surgery, made three starts and went back on the injured list because of shoulder inflammation.
asserted
hander → return → inflammation
Toronto right-hander José Berríos decided not to opt out of the final two seasons of his $131 million, seven-year contract, which call for salaries of $24 million per season.
asserted
which → decide → season
The 32-year-old did not pitch this year and is recovering from Tommy John surgery on May 20.
uncertain
old → pitch → May
Athletics right-hander Luis Severino exercised a $22 million player option for 2027, the last season of a $67 million, three-year contract agreed to in December 2025.
asserted
Severino → exercise → December
The 32-year-old was 2-6 with a 4.16 ERA in 12 starts, not pitching after May 29 because of a strained right shoulder.
uncertain
old → pitch → shoulder
Baltimore reliever Ryan Helsley did not opt out of his $14 million salary next season, part of a $28 million, two-year contract.
asserted
Helsley → opt → contract
He didn’t pitch for the Orioles between April 28 and June 17 because of right elbow inflammation, returned for five outings and then went back on the IL with elbow discomfort.
asserted
He → pitch → discomfort
He did not pitch again this season.
asserted
He → pitch → ?
Houston right-hander Tatsuya Imai did not opt out of the final two seasons of a $54 million, three-year contract, which calls for salaries of $18 million in 2027 and 2028.
asserted
which → opt → 2027
Imai also has the right to opt out after next season.
asserted
Imai → have → season
Chicago Cubs right-handers Clay Holmes, Hunter Harvey and Colin Rea became free agents along with left-hander Caleb Thielbar after their 2027 options were declined, while righty Jacob Webb agreed to a $2.5 million, one-year contract.
asserted
Webb → become → contract
Arizona right-hander Michael Soroka declined his $10 million mutual option for 2027, triggering a $1 million buyout.
asserted
Soroka → decline → buyout
Soroka, 29, was 9-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 21 starts and one relief appearance after signing a one-year contract that guaranteed $7.5 million.
asserted
that → sign → million
He earned $1.35 million in performance bonuses.
asserted
He → earn → bonuses
He was sidelined between June 19 and Aug. 10 by a left glute strain.
asserted
He → sideline → strain
Cleveland declined right-hander Shawn Armstrong’s $8 million mutual option in favor of a $1.5 million buyout.
asserted
Cleveland → decline → buyout
The 36-year-old had a one-year deal guaranteeing $5.5 million and went 2-1 with a 4.58 ERA in 41 relief appearances.
asserted
old → have → appearances
World Series champion Milwaukee declined an $8.5 million mutual option on catcher Gary Sánchez, who gets a $250,000 buyout as part of a one-year contract guaranteeing $1.75 million.
asserted
who → decline → million
The Brewers also turned down a $14 million option on right-hander Antonio Senzatela, part of a $50.5 million, five-year contract he agreed to with Colorado.
asserted
he → turn → Colorado
Detroit declined a $12 million option on reliever Kenley Jansen.
asserted
Detroit → decline → Jansen
The 39-year-old right-hander, third on the career list with 498 saves, gets a $2 million buyout as part of an $11 million, one-year contract.
asserted
hander → get → contract
The Tigers exercised a $10 million option on right-hander Drew Anderson, who had a $7 million salary this year.
asserted
who → exercise → salary
Toronto declined an $8 million option on outfielder Myles Straw, who gets a $1.75 million buyout that completes a $25 million, five-year contract he signed with Cleveland.
asserted
he → decline → Cleveland
St. Louis declined a $6 million option on right-hander Ryne Stanek, who gets a $1 million buyout as part of a contract guaranteeing $3.5 million.
asserted
who → decline → million
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
